The suspended head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for South Florida was arrested Tuesday on charges of possessing and distributing images of child pornography over the Internet, according to authorities familiar with the case.

Anthony V. Mangione, 50, of Parkland, was taken into custody by FBI agents. He will be held at the Broward Sheriffs Office jail until his appearance in Fort Lauderdale federal court Wednesday.

Justice Department, FBI and ICE officials declined to comment.

Mangione was placed on paid administrative leave in April after federal agents began investigating four images of child pornography he allegedly received on his home computer via an AOL e-mail account, according to sources familiar with the probe. The investigation grew significantly over the summer, leading to the Internet-related, child-pornography charges being filed under seal, according to sources.

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